K-State SportsSports

Wildcats in the NFL – Week 18

KMAN Staff

MANHATTAN, Kan. (K-State Sports) – Each week throughout the 2023 season, k-statesports.com recaps the action for the 17 former Kansas State football players currently in the NFL.

Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE – Kansas City Chiefs
A first-round pick this year, Anudike-Uzomah carded three tackles – including two for loss – among his season-high 61 defensive snaps to help Kansas City earn a 13-12 victory at the Los Angeles Chargers. Playing in all 17 games this year, Anudike-Uzomah finished the regular season with 14 tackles, two TFLs, seven quarterback hits and a forced fumble. The Chiefs, who won the AFC West for an eighth-straight season, finished the year with an 11-6 record to claim the No. 3 seed in the AFC Playoffs. Kansas City hosts No. 6-seed Miami on Saturday night in a 7:15 p.m., contest that will be shown on Peacock.

Ekow Boye-Doe, CB – Kansas City Chiefs
A rookie free agent this past offseason, Boye-Doe was in for 21 special teams plays in addition to seeing his first-career action on defense for 15 snaps to help the Chiefs pick up a 13-12 win at the Los Angeles Chargers. Spending time on the practice squad the first 11 games of the season, Boye-Doe has been in for 84 special teams plays this year for the 11-6 Chiefs, who won the AFC West for an eighth-straight year and will be the No. 3 seed in the AFC Playoffs. Kansas City hosts sixth-seeded Miami on Saturday night in a 7:15 p.m., game that will be shown on Peacock.

JuJu Brents, CB – Indianapolis Colts
A second-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, Brents recorded a pair of tackles among his 30 defensive snaps and five special teams plays during Indianapolis’ 23-19 home loss to Houston on Saturday night. Battling injuries throughout the year, Brents started eight of his nine games played during his rookie season, and he carded 43 tackles, six passes defended, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. The Colts finished with a 9-8 record to tie for second in the AFC South as they narrowly missed out on a playoff berth.

Josh Hayes, DB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A sixth-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, Hayes made a pair of tackles among his 13 special teams plays to help Tampa Bay earn a 9-0 win at Carolina, a victory that claimed the NFC South for the Buccaneers. Hayes played in 15 regular-season games this year, coming away with 17 tackles. Tampa Bay, which finished the regular season with a 9-8 record, is the No. 4 seed in the NFC Playoffs and will host Philadelphia on Monday night at 7 p.m., in a game broadcast on ESPN.

Timmy Horne, DL – New York Giants
Horne, a second-year veteran who began the season on Atlanta’s practice squad and was signed by the Giants on December 21, was inactive for New York’s 27-10 home win over Philadelphia. Horne played in four games this year – three for the Falcons and one for the Giants – as he totaled four tackles and a pass breakup. New York finished the season with a 6-11 record.

Malik Knowles, WR – Minnesota Vikings
A rookie free agent signee by Minnesota this past spring, Knowles spent the entire 2023 season on injured reserve. Minnesota finished the season with a 7-10 record following a 30-20 loss at Detroit in the season finale.

Tyler Lockett, WR – Seattle Seahawks
Lockett, who made his 120th career start, had two catches for 71 yards – including a 34-yard touchdown reception and the ensuing go-ahead two-point conversion – during Seattle’s 21-20 win at Arizona. Finishing his ninth NFL season by starting all 17 games, Lockett tallied 79 catches for 894 yards and five touchdowns. The Seahawks finished the season with a 9-8 record as they just missed a playoff berth.

Cornelius Lucas, OL – Washington Commanders
A ninth-year pro, Lucas started and was in for all 49 offensive snaps in Washington’s 38-10 home loss to the Cowboys. Lucas played in every game this year with four starts for the Commanders, who finished the season with a 4-13 record.

Byron Pringle, WR – Washington Commanders
A signee by Washington this past offseason, Pringle returned three kickoffs for a 25.7-yard average among his 12 special teams plays in addition to seeing time on nine offensive snaps in Washington’s 38-10 home loss to Dallas. In 17 games this year with one start, Pringle carded 14 catches for 161 yards while he returned nine kickoffs for a 27.9-yard average. The Commanders finished the year with a 4-13 record.

D.J. Reed, DB – New York Jets
Reed, who made the 56th start of his career and 15th this season, registered three tackles and a pass breakup to help the Jets end the season on a winning note with a 17-3 victory at New England. In 15 games this year – all starts – Reed collected 76 tackles, two tackles for loss, one interception, nine pass breakups and one fumble recovery. New York finished the season with a 7-10 record.

Dalton Risner, OL – Minnesota Vikings
An in-season acquisition by Minnesota, Risner started and was in for 71 of the Vikings’ 73 offensive snaps during Minnesota’s 30-20 loss at Detroit. Risner played in 15 games this year with 11 starts for the Vikings, which finished their season with a 7-10 record.

Duke Shelley, DB – Los Angeles Rams
A free agent signee by the Rams after the preseason, Shelley was placed on injured reserve on November 27. In 11 games this year, Shelley made eight tackles, two pass breakups and one fumble recovery. LA earned a 21-20 win at San Francisco to finish the season with a 10-7 record, as the Rams are the No. 6 seed in the NFC Playoffs and will travel to face No. 3-seed Detroit on Sunday night in a 7:15 p.m. contest at NBC.

Skylar Thompson, QB – Miami Dolphins
For the 17th time this season, Thompson served as the third quarterback during Miami’s 21-14 home loss to Buffalo. The Dolphins finished the regular season with an 11-6 record and will be the No. 6 seed in the AFC Playoffs as they travel to face third-seeded Kansas City on Saturday night in a 7:15 p.m., game that will be shown on Peacock.

Deuce Vaughn, RB – Dallas Cowboys
A sixth-round selection in this year’s draft, Vaughn was placed on injured reserve on January 3 prior to the Cowboys winning the NFC East with a 38-10 win at Washington. Vaughn finished the season by playing in eight games and totaling 40 rushing yards on 23 carries, 40 receiving yards on seven catches and 19 punt-return yards on four attempts. Dallas finished the regular season with a 12-5 record to claim the No. 2 seed in the NFC Playoffs, and the Cowboys host Green Bay on Sunday at 3:30 p.m., in a game played on FOX.

Cody Whitehair, OL – Chicago Bears
Whitehair saw time on 35 offensive snaps and three special teams plays during Chicago’s 17-9 loss at Green Bay. In his eighth NFL season – all with the Bears – Whitehair played in all 17 games with 11 starts. The Bears finished the year with a 7-10 record.

Russ Yeast, S – Los Angeles Rams
Yeast, a seventh-round selection last year, recorded seven tackles and two pass breakups among his 49 defensive snaps and five special teams plays to help LA earn a 21-20 win at San Francisco. In 17 regular-season games with nine starts, Yeast finished with 61 tackles and five passes defended. The Rams are the No. 6 seed in the NFC Playoffs and will travel to play third-seed Detroit on Sunday night in a 7:15 p.m., game that will be shown on NBC.

Ty Zentner, P – Tennessee Titans
Zentner punted three times for a 41.7-yard average with a long of 50 yards and one punt downed inside the 20-yard line to help Tennessee earn a 28-20 home victory over Jacksonville. Zentner played in five games for the Titans to close the year after opening the season by playing in the first four games for Houston. In his nine overall games during his rookie campaign, Zentner averaged 44.9-yard average on 38 punts with 10 punts landing inside the opponent 20-yard line. Tennessee finished the season with a 6-11 record.

 

 

 

The post Wildcats in the NFL – Week 18 appeared first on News Radio KMAN.

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